Cave of White Stone

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Prehistoric proof

In June 1922, Italian archeologists Alessandro Della Seta and Teodoro "Doro" Levi were conducting excavations in the cave of White Stone (Aspri Petra Cave) of Mount Zini, found in Kefalos. Little did they know of the significance of their findings! Their digging revealed, among other findings, fragments of Neolithic urns, an incised clay vessel, obsidian cores, blades, grooming objects and food remains, all concluding evidence that the Cave of White Stone (or Aspri Petra Cave) was one of the most significant excavations in connection to Prehistoric times. The findings placed the cave close to the period ranging from the Neolithic Age and the very beginning of the Bronze Era, about the year 3000 BC. 

Later on, near Askloupis mound, Giuseppe Lazzara discovered two prehistoric entombments in 1943, human fossils, traces of copper and pot made of clay. Both the pot and tomb’ type date back to the early Bronze Age (2,800 - 2,000 BC), proving that Kos was indeed inhabited during the prehistoric period.

The cave of  White Stone (Aspri Petra Cave) can be found atop Mount Zini in Kefalos, at an altitude of 257 meters, in the southwestern part of the island. Initially used as a place of residence and later as a place of worship, the cavern is composed of solid layers of rock, which explains its preservation through time. The cave is probably the oldest landmark on the island and a must-visit for all history enthusiasts.

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Alessandro Della Seta during the excavation in the cave
Did you know?

Alessandro Della Seta (1879 - 1944) was a leading figure in the studies of Etruscan - Italic and Greek - Roman antiquity and Director of the Italian Archeological School in Athens. Teodoro "Doro" Levi (1899 - 1991) was an archeologist who practiced in the Mediterranean countries in the 20th century. Levi has published a number of technical manuscripts on archeology such as Festos e la Civiltà Minoica, tavole I published in 1976 Some of Levi's most significant work was a long term excavation at Minoan Phaistos - which site is the second most significant Minoan settlement (following Knossos) and which has yielded important finds such as the Phaistos Disk and extensive Bronze Age pottery.

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Coordinates
Coordinates
36.7187656, 26.9742350
Kos Island Greece